Not that it wasn’t cool already, but with the Young Scientist Club, even the least scientifically inclined kids will be enthralled.

The Adventure Science Kits are designed as a continuous learning experience and they not only build upon each other but are also interlinked. For example, the child makes a compass with kit 3 (magnets) which then will be used to study wind direction with a self-made weather vane from kit 4 (weather station). As a teacher, I know for a fact that this continuum based learning is much more easily retained than isolated lessons. There are currently 8 kits available and they’re designed for ages 5 and up. Many of them can be used individually and parents have the option of starting at kits other than number 1 with older children. They work on a subscription basis – either once or twice a month, and the site has some great links to accompany the kits. The kits are also available individually from several stores, including Amazon.

The Volcano Madness kit (kit 6, pictured @ right) comes with everything your child needs to discover volcanoes and their structures by creating and designing a volcano. They get to touch, feel, and experiment with real volcanic rock (pumice). Ultimate explosion solutions are created by measuring and mixing different substances in test tubes. This kit finishes with the roaring experience of volcanic eruptions that Young Scientists will want to repeat over and over again.

Zany Crystals (kit 8, pictured @ left) allows children to explore crystal shapes, create crystal art, grow ice crystals, design a salt crystal garden, and grow crystal stars. The best part? Kids create and grow real rock candy! Mmmmmm…

Other than some very basic household ingredients, every kit contains all the supplies you’ll need – right down to the safety goggles.

The newest Young Scientist Club addition is a series of Magic School Bus kits. If you’ve never watched Magic School Bus with your kids, you don’t know what you’re missing. I use the programs in my grade one classroom regularly – there’s one for almost every unit. These kits also contain pretty much everything you need. Kids are guided by the infamous Miss Frizzle on a trip through the Mysteries of Rainbows (pictured), the World of Germs or Into the Human Body. With the Mysteries of Rainbows kit, kids will wear rainbow glasses, create a rainbow spinner, blow rainbow bubbles, make rainbow milk and find out why rainbows appear on the back of CD’s. What an awesome way to encourage learning about the wonders of nature!

I’d highly recommend these kits for anyone who is homeschooling children, has a gifted child requiring enrichment or just has a kid who likes cool stuff. They’d make great activities for summer holidays or Christmas vacation. You know – all those times when kids forget all they’ve learned the rest of the year. Keep ‘em busy, entertained and learning with The Young Scientists Club.

We’ve got one of each of the featured kits to give away. To enter, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with either Science-Volcano, Science-Crystals or Science-Rainbows in the subject line and list one other kit available in the Adventure Science series. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/15/07. Congratulations Ash & Becca!

It always ticks me off when we buy a child a gift and never hear from them. There’s nothing better than a good old fashioned thank-you note to make me buy them an even better present the next time. I fear it’s becoming a lost art – not only for children, but for adults as well.

I am loving the Make-Your-Own Thank You Notes kit from Made by Hands, a great company owned by Chicago moms Dena Hirschberg & Ava Berry. They’ve created a large selection of timeless art activity kits that are fun, packed with supplies and allow for endless creative possibilities.

The Make-Your-Own Thank You Notes kit (so new it’s not even available on their website yet) contains 15 cards & envelopes, over 600 pop out shapes, a glue stick and a cute book with great examples of when & how to make thank-you cards and ideas for “thoughtful thoughts.”

If we all do our part to teach them graciousness while they’re young, perhaps women who don’t send thank you cards after their baby shower will not exist 15 years from now. We can only hope.

Check out the whole Make-Your-Own series. They’re all just as fabulous, and will keep your child entertained for hours without pigeonholing their art into the “make an exact replica of this” project.

We’ve got a Make-Your-Own Thank You Notes kit to give away! To be entered in the random draw, email theopinionatedparent@gmail.com with Thank You in the subject line and name one of the other kits in the Make-Your-Own series. Contest closes at midnight MST on 5/11/07. Congratulations Nancy!